The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded after a failed attempt to place satellites into orbit around the Earth.

As a result, 20 satellites have been thrown into orbit that is far too low and will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, reports the AP. It is the first time in nearly a decade that a Falcon 9 has suffered a failure.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now demanding an investigation and has halted all launches of the rocket model until the problem is resolved. Space X said on Friday that the accident was caused by a liquid oxygen leak.

The failure raises questions about how long the Falcon 9 will be grounded. A billionaire was scheduled to fly the rocket in late July to make the first private spacewalk.

The rocket also plays a key role in NASA's manned spaceflight program. As recently as January, Swedish astronaut Marcus Wandt traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) on a Falcon 9.

Space X, led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, is also behind the Starlink network, which uses thousands of satellites to provide people with internet access in the most remote places in the world.

Source: Aftonbladet.se